The Montgomery GI Bill provides veterans with help in financing college or technical education for use in degree or certificate programs, flight training, on the job training and or other educational endeavors, if the veteran has met the established requirements.

The Montgomery GI Bill requires the soldier to commit to a withholding of $100.00 per month from the soldiers monthly pay for 12 months.

In return, the soldier can receive up to 36 months of benefits for educational purposes.

The benefits can be used from the date of the soldiers discharge to up to 10 years after that date.

There are other educational programs available for active duty and non-active duty veterans. They include the $600 Buy-up Program, The Veterans Educational Assistance Program, The Selective Reserve Program, and the Reserve Educational Assistance Program.

The $600 Buy-up Program requires that a veteran pay an additional $600.00 of contributions to the GI Bill in order to receive an additional sum of $5400 in benefits after leaving active military service.

The Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) is a veteran entered active duty between January 1, 1977 and June 30, 1985. A contribution from military pay is required and the contribution is matched 2 to 1 in dollar amounts.

The Selective Service Program is available to Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Army National Guard, and Air National Guard Reserve troops.

The Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) is a benefit program that provides educational assistance to members of the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or other guard components that are called to active duty by the President or Congress in times of war or national emergencies.

The Survivors' And Dependent' Educational Assistance Program (DEA) is designed to provide education and training to dependents of veterans who are permanently disabled due to a service related condition or who died while on active duty if the cause of death was service related. This program offers up to 45 months of educational benefits.

For more information on military service related educational programs, check with your local military recruitment offices or call 1-888-442-4551 to talk to a Veterans Benefits Counselor.